The Senedd has voted to support the Legislative Consent Motion for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, marking a …
No Ifs. No Butts. Report 22-25
Three years of community intelligence driving enforcement across Wales
Turning Point for Communities and Enforcement Across Wales
Launched in March 2022, the No Ifs. No Butts. reporting portal has reshaped how communities and enforcement teams tackle illegal tobacco, illegal vapes and underage sales.
In just three years it has generated 1,452 reports across the UK, driving enforcement action and showing the power of public engagement.
Trading Standards confirm that intelligence from the portal has led to raids, seizures and shop closures that would not otherwise have taken place. Wales has built a model that is now recognised across the UK.
1,452 reports logged across the UK
The No Ifs. No Butts. reporting system is now the main route for reporting illegal tobacco, illegal vapes and underage sales in Wales. Since 2022, 882 reports have been submitted from Wales alone, compared with just 261 reports recorded across the whole of Wales in 2016/17.
In 2025 alone, 271 reports were submitted from Wales, the highest annual total since the system launched.
This rise shows how awareness, trust and visibility have transformed public engagement and given Welsh communities a direct line into enforcement.
Total Number Reports UK / Wales
Illegal vapes now feature in nearly two-thirds of Welsh reports
In 2022, illegal vapes were a smaller concern than tobacco. By 2024, reports involving illegal vapes had caught up with tobacco, and in 2025 they appeared in 65% of Welsh reports, closely matching illegal tobacco at 64%.
Total Number Reports Vapes, Illegal Tobacco and Cannabis UK
Safeguarding drives around one-third of all reports
Safeguarding concerns are a major driver of reporting. Around one-third of all reports raise concerns about underage sales, children or youth access, combining free-text comments and the dedicated underage sales option.
In 2025 alone, more than half of Welsh reports (51.7%) flagged underage sales, showing that communities increasingly encounter illegal tobacco and vapes as a child protection issue rather than a trading offence.
Free-Text Mentions (%) of 1,452 Reports
Where reports are coming from in Wales?
Reports are concentrated in Wales’ biggest urban areas but extend right across the country. Newport leads with 181 reports (22.7%), the highest both in total numbers and per head of population. Cardiff follows with 148 reports (18.6%), while Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire together make up over 20% of all Welsh reports, forming a strong North Wales cluster. The South Wales Valleys contribute another 15%, showing that illegal sales are not just a city problem but a widespread issue affecting towns and rural communities alike.
Total Reports By Local Authorities in Wales
Get Involved
We’ve created a set of downloadable graphics to make it easy for schools, community groups, councils and organisations across Wales to share the message: report illegal tobacco and vapes through No Ifs. No Butts.
These graphics include clear calls to action in English and Welsh, showing exactly how to report and why it matters.
Together we can make sure more people across Wales know where to turn if they see illegal sales happening in their communities.
Future Direction
- Support enforcement and compliance with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill by providing rapid public reporting of breaches and actionable intelligence for Trading Standards.
- Enhance intelligence-sharing across agencies, enabling faster responses and stronger coordination. Support targeted activity in hotspot communities, where illegal sales and youth access are most prevalent.
- Strengthen Wales’ ability to respond rapidly to emerging illicit products and changing tactics in the market. Track emerging products (including nicotine pouches, currently legal for under‑18s) in real time through new reporting fields.
